James "Jim" Ercil Gough "Bompa"

Jim was born on August 23, 1945 in Akron, Ohio to Ercil and Doris Gough. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Northlake, Illinois. He was the eldest of 5 children. He had three brothers, Gary, John, and Joe and a sister, Kathy.

He attended St. John Vianny for Junior High and was a star basketball player. Jim graduated in May 1964 from West Leyden High School. In January 1965, he joined the United States Air Force. He attended Triton College taking various IBM courses and that solidified his career path in the computer industry. But what shaped and enriched his life was having children.

Jim and his former wife, Lauren had three children, Jim Jr., Sandie, and Dan. Always the adventurous one, he packed up the family and moved to California in 1972. He dabbled in buying and selling rental property before joining a computer company as Director of Management Information Systems in 1974. There he met and married his wife Renee on May 3, 1980 and they had a daughter, April together. He started his own Computer Consulting Company, Gough Systems providing software/support for water districts in July 1983. He was joined by his friend, Bob Modrich at Gough Systems in 1986. Through the following years, Jim and Bob provided software/support to many Water Districts in Southern California. Semi-Retired, Jim and Renee moved to Frisco, Texas to be near family in October 2017 until present day. To honor Jim, his legacy, Gough Systems will continue on with Bob at the helm now.

During his lifetime, Jim had a passion for all recreational outdoor activities and he did them all, skillfully and safely. Jim got his Private Pilot's license and bought two Cessna airplanes. We flew with our best friends from California to Lake of the Woods, Canada to go fishing. It was the adventure of a lifetime. Jim loved airplanes and taking the kids and grandkids to many airshows.

Jim was an avid motorcycle and car enthusiast. He owned many classic cars during his life and he was amazing how he could tell what year a car was just by the grill or frame of the car. He loved going to car and motorcycle shows with his family and reminiscing about how he had this one or that one during his lifetime. He rode dirt bikes in the California desert for many years and loved sharing his passion for bikes with his kids, teaching them how to ride. He participated in a dirt bike race from Barstow to Vegas. In 1998 he bought a Harley Davidson Electric Glide Classic and he rode it from California to Milwaukee for the 95th and the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson. He rode it from California to South Dakota for the Sturgis rally, to Florida for Daytona Bike week and many years to Nevada for the Laughlin Motorcycle River Run. He participated for several years in Jay Leno's charity Love Ride in Los Angeles. He even rode with many of our church members to a Toys for Tots rally in Los Angeles. He was usually accompanied by family members who share the same passion for motorcycle riding. He loved sightseeing, and cruising the highway, but especially important to him were the stops along the way to his favorite place, Dairy Queen. He had a sharp recall for places, but he was so amazing that he could tell you which town, which exit and where each one was located across the country, to the amusement of his family. He said, "If a motorcycle rider is not stopping at Dairy Queen, then they must not be on a Harley".

Jim also had a love for boats and camping. The old adage, So Many Toys and Not Enough time could be said, but Jim made sure he did them all and did them well. At different times of his life, he had various boats. He spent many weekends when the kids were little teaching them about boating and waterskiing at Lake Havasu and Lake Mead, Nevada. Later he had a sailboat and loved sailing around San Diego. His last boat was a Sea Ray he kept docked at a marina near Long Beach and he enjoyed touring around the harbor or just sitting on it enjoying the view. When the kids were little, he had a truck and camper and traveled all over and he taught them how to fish and camp. Then he bought a Motor Home and went camping all over Southern California with the grandkids, teaching them how to fish, swim, and camp.

Last, but not least and most important was Jim's favorite pastime, Fishing in Canada. We spent many years going to Swenson's Resort, on Lake of the Woods that his best friend, Bill owned. That was Our CAMELOT (a time, or place, of idyllic happiness). Fish all day, play cards all night, sleep and do it again and again. We bought property on that lake so we could retire there, but life had other ideas. We had the most amazing, fun filled memories of fishing, laughing and good times there with family and friends. ***Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada "Our Camelot" is where I will scatter some of his ashes. He loved it there. That is where he wanted to be ***

Jim loved many outdoor activities, but the ones where he was surrounded by the "Gough" clan made him the happiest. Most of them were always right by his side on the motorcycling, boating, or camping adventures.

Final Sentiments from Renee:

I struggle to find the words to tell everyone just what an incredible man he was and how many endearing traits he had. Jim had the biggest heart of anyone. He was the most loving, thoughtful Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandpa (Bompa), Great Grandpa, and Uncle who is so very loved by not just Family, but by many, dear friends as well. That is the Measure of a Man. He had riches beyond measure by how many people loved him and looked up to him. He influenced and touched the lives of so many. I requested family and friends send "Say It Now" letters to me so I could read them to him in the hospital. I am comforted that I was able to read all of them to him before he went home to Heaven. Jim was calm and quiet, but he had a wild side and quick wit and funny comebacks that would shine through. He had a compassionate nature and always put the needs of family first. He opened our home up at different times throughout the years and took care of my 100-year-old grandmother, my mother, and his dad who suffered from Alzheimer’s before their deaths. Jim was strong and dependable, never complaining. That was just one of the many things I loved about him. He was so good natured and big hearted; a "good sport" as others would tell him as he always went along with any hair-brained idea I came up with for fun; as well as always letting me dress him in the most outrageous costumes for Halloween, many, many times. Every time we moved, he would let me wrap him in Bubble wrap and I would send out our new address and pic along with it. He could act gruff on the outside, but he was the biggest pushover for his kids and grandkids. He could say "Absolutely Not" and in the blink of an eye cave in to whatever was requested of him. He loved traveling, either taking cruises or taking the train. But he could be just as happy at home, spending time with family and friends or watching endless hours of football and classic car shows on TV. Jim had a big heart for others as well. Sometimes reserved around strangers, I was so proud of him when he volunteered once a month for a couple of years to feed the homeless alongside a local church in So. California. After we moved to Texas and joined Preston Ridge Church, he volunteered at Christmastime to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child to send toys and the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world to kids.

Jim bravely fought bladder cancer this past year. On Tuesday evening, March 15 he went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by his wife, his children, several grandchildren, Pastors and church family. It is a great comfort to me and our family that Jim had accepted the Lord as his Savior long ago. During the months prior to his passing, Pastor Gerald and Pastor Steve had prayed with him and that was a comfort and blessing to him. Jim told me a few weeks ago he was ready to go meet God. Jim gave me many wonderful gifts during our marriage, but this was the greatest gift of all. The assurance he is in Heaven and I will see him and hold him again someday. He has no more pain and suffering; he is at peace. Jim was the love of my life, the best Husband, My Best Friend, my Everything. When it is my time, Jim knows without a doubt that my roadrunner self will race to be with him. My heart is shattered each time I look at his chair and he is not there. We created a beautiful daughter together and shared so many wonderful adventures and memories together. I will Forever Love and Miss Him. Our signature L.U.M., meant Love u More and I did. Jim had marked some passages in his bible.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die."

Romans 8:18 For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed.

Jim was preceded in death by his Parents, Ercil James Gough and Doris Marie Gough

Jim was survived by the Love of his Life, his spouse of 41 years, Renee; children, Jim (Mary) Gough, Jr., Sandie (Robert) Wrona, Dan (Erin) Gough, and April (Ryan) Piatti; grandchildren, Brody Gough, Jackie (Mike) Curry, Sam Gough, Andy (Shelby) Wrona, David Gough, Vanna Gough, Maddie Gough, Brendan Gough, Liam Gough, Carson Piatti, Kassidy Piatti, Carlie Piatti; great-grandchildren, Bentley Wrona and Karoline Curry; siblings, Gary (Anita) Gough, John (Cindi) Gough, Kathy (Jerry) Malatesta, and Joe Gough; aunt, Myrna Wiggins and Bette Cummings; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service for Jim will be held at 11 am, May 14, 2022 at Preston Ridge Church, 5849 Hillcrest, Frisco, TX 75035. Following the service, a luncheon will be provided by the church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James "Jim" Ercil Gough "Bompa", please visit our floral store.